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Fungai Lupande Senior Court Reporter
Former MDC Member of Parliament for Mutasa North constituency Mr David Anthony Chimhini has approached the High Court demanding his pension from the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Dr Sekai Nzenza after serving in the august House for two terms.

Mr Chimhini wants the High Court to order the Pensions Office, which falls under the labour ministry, to calculate the benefits due to him and pay the money in accordance with provisions of the Parliamentary Pensions Act (Chapter 2:02).

“The plaintiff having worked and served as an MP for two Parliaments is entitled to a pension when he attains the age of 50 years.

“Despite demand, the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has refused, neglected and ignored to calculate the pension benefits due to the plaintiff,” read the summons.

Mr Chimhini wants the Parliament of Zimbabwe, cited as the second respondent, to supply all the relevant and necessary information required for such calculation and sign all necessary documents to process the full pension benefits.

The summons also read: “The plaintiff was elected MP for the Mutasa North constituency on March 29, 2008 and served to the end of that term when Parliament was dissolved on June 29, 2013.

“The plaintiff contested the 2013 elections but was not successful. On June 17, 2015, the plaintiff was appointed as senator for Manicaland province and he served until July 29, 2018 when the Eighth Parliament was dissolved.

“MPs who serve for two or more terms are entitled to a pension while those who serve for one term were initially only entitled to a refund of their contributions but the provision has now been amended to entitlement to a gratuity.”